Natalie Portman campaigns for Clinton in Bell’s Corner

Ross Feinberg will be at Curran’s Irish Inn on Thursday at 3:30 p.m., hoping to debate state Sen. John Sabatina Jr. (D-5th dist.).

Feinberg, a Republican, set the date, time and location when he did not get a reply from Sabatina to debate him.

The Times, which will moderate the debate, has not gotten confirmation from Sabatina that he will attend, though Feinberg expects he will be there. Curran’s is at State Road and Longshore Avenue.

Meanwhile, Joe Hohenstein, the Democratic candidate in the 177th Legislative District, is trying, so far unsuccessfully, to get Republican Rep. John Taylor to debate him. The Times has agreed to moderate the debate if it happens.

One debate that will definitely happen will feature state Rep. Martina White (R-170th dist.) against Democrat Matt Darragh. They will square off on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. at Somerton Youth Organization, with Times staffers serving as moderator and timekeeper.

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Feinberg will be co-hosting a presidential debate watch party on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 8:30 p.m. at Philadelphia Republican Party headquarters at 3525 Cottman Ave. The cost is $10.

The Wheely Wheely Good food truck will be outside.

Feinberg invited the truck co-owners, who are Asian, after they said City Councilwoman Helen Gym condemned their business. Gym claims the name of the business and the caricatures on the truck are racist.

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Following Sunday’s presidential debate and after video surfaced of Donald Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women, Democratic legislative candidate Joe Hohenstein called on opponent John Taylor to renounce his support for the Republican presidential nominee.

Hohenstein noted that there is a cut-out of Trump at the Philadelphia GOP headquarters on Cottman Avenue.

“The most recent revelations about Donald Trump reinforce the fact that he should never be president of the United States. My Republican opponent, John Taylor, has characterized Trump as merely ‘juvenile’ and told the press that he is going to vote for him. The truth is that Trump is dangerous and unfit. John owes an explanation to the constituents of the 177th District about why he supports a presidential nominee who is so clearly the opposite of all the values that both of us were raised with in Northeast Philadelphia,” he said in a statement.

“Given the recent revelations surrounding abuse and harassment at the PPA by Vince Fenerty, John Taylor’s close friend and political ally, and the Philadelphia GOP’s cavalier attitude toward protecting women’s rights in the workplace, John needs to unequivocally and publicly reject both Trump and the culture of mistreatment and denigration of women that is perpetuated by his party at both the national and local levels.”

Portman appeared the day before the deadline for Pennsylvanians to register to vote. She has backed the Democratic presidential nominee in the last four elections, and supported Clinton over Barack Obama in 2008.

Portman supports Clinton for her advocacy for women and girls. She rejects Donald Trump for language he has allegedly used against women, including calling Alicia Machado, a former Miss Universe from Venezuela, “Miss Piggy” and “Miss Housekeeping.”

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The students at Father Judge High School apparently want to make America great again. The city election commissioners office last week brought a voting machine for a mock election.

Donald Trump easily won with 132 votes, followed by Hillary Clinton with 29, Gary Johnson with 12 and Jill Stein with seven. The office also registered students who will be 18 this year. The deadline to register to vote was Tuesday.

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The public is invited to two upcoming political forums.

The Bakers Bay Civic Association will welcome candidates on Thursday, Oct. 20, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Bakers Bay is at 5100 Convent Lane (at State Road), south of Fitler Street. The event is in the clubhouse.

Candidates for president, U.S. Senate and House, attorney general, auditor general, treasurer and state Senate and House have been invited.

Also, Congregations of Shaare Shamayim will host a free brunch on Sunday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. The synagogue is at 9768 Verree Road.

Candidates wanting to attend either event can call Ruth Horwitz at 215–913–1991.

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The Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association will welcome candidates to its meeting on Thursday, Oct. 13, set for 7 p.m. at Wesley Enhanced Living, 7040 Oxford Ave.

Among those who will appear are Ross Feinberg, the Republican candidate in the 5th Senatorial District, and Jim Pio, the Republican candidate in the 172nd Legislative District.

Also, campaign aide Zack Arnold will speak for Jared Solomon, the Democrat who is unopposed in the 202nd Legislative District.

Refreshments will be available.

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Speaking of Solomon, he has been endorsed by the Service Employee International Union Pennsylvania State Council.

Executive director Reesa Kossoff said, “Jared has worked to serve his community throughout his life, and we are confident he will bring that same enthusiasm to Harrisburg as an elected official.”

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Katie McGinty, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, released a plan outlining her proposals to keep America safe. The plan focuses on defeating and destroying ISIS, strengthening the military and combating terrorist threats.

Following the release of the national security plan, McGinty received the endorsement of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

“Our country needs leaders in the U.S. Senate who have a clear vision for how to protect our national security and take on the challenges facing the country,” Albright said. “I am proud to wholeheartedly endorse Katie McGinty in this race because she has that vision. She has explained how we need to defeat ISIS, strengthen our military and keep our country safe. Katie knows that active American leadership around the world is essential. I know that Katie will be an outstanding senator for Pennsylvania, and always put the safety and security of the American people first.”

The liberal Truman National Security Project also announced its endorsement of McGinty. ••